West Valley Votes: Alleged violation of RCW 42.17A.235 & .240 for failure to timely & accurately report contributions and expenditures. (EY24, MAY24)

Case

#154715

Respondent

West Valley Votes

Complainant

Conner Edwards

Description

PDC staff reviewed the allegation(s); the applicable statutes and rules and reporting requirements; the response(s) provided by the Respondent; the applicable PDC reports filed by the Respondent; and other relevant information, to determine whether the record supports a finding of one or more violations.

Based on staff’s review, we found the following:

  • West Valley Votes filed a Committee Registration (C-1pc) for the 2024 Special Election campaign on December 4, 2023, under the Full Reporting option.
  • Specifically for December 29, 2023, and January 31, 2024, the committee incorrectly attributed Small Contributions collected as an Itemized Contribution from “WV Payroll Dep” on C-3 reports #110195666, amended by 110232223, and #110231172, amended by 110231173, and #110231174, amended by 110231175.  The associated C-4 for these contributions were also amended to reflect the corrections.
  • The total dollar amount of the contributions was $307 and did not change when the reports were amended.
  • The Respondent has no prior warnings or violations.

Based on our findings staff has determined that, in this instance, failure to accurately and timely report contributions and expenditures in the 2024 Special Election campaign does not amount to a finding of a violation that calls for further investigation.  We also find that the amendments, specific to this complaint, are insufficient evidence of late reporting. 

West Valley Votes made minor or ministerial errors on required reports, which did not materially affect the public interest.  Upon notification of these errors the committee treasurer, Sam Andrews, promptly worked with staff and amended their reports, making the necessary corrections as requested by staff.

Based on this information, the PDC finds that no further action is necessary and hereby resolves this matter as a technical correction per RCW 42.17A.755(1) & (2) and WAC 390-37-060.

Disposition

Resolved with Technical Correction

Date Opened

June 04, 2024

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.235, RCW 42.17A.240

Documents

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